High Tea archived

The Hilton at Short Hills. You do have to book it though, you can't just turn up, but it's v. v. good and they will keep bringing refills of pots of tea and extra sandwiches if you ask them nicely! (I recommend the Darjeeling, but I take milk with tea).

http://www.hiltonshorthills.com/dining/dinner_teamenu.html

The Westbury, off Grafton Street, in Dublin, has one of the best afternoon teas in the European Union. A little farther to go than Short Hills but worth the trek.

NYC: Alice's Tea Cup. There's 2 locations, one on the upper eastside, one on the upper westside.
Heavenly for little girls (and big girls too!).

The Astor Court of the St Regis Hotel in NYC on 55th st off Fifth Ave -
With linen-clad tables set between pillars rising to a soaring, cloud-dappled ceiling, Astor Court is as serene as it is elegant. Porthault linens, Limoges china and Waterford crystal set the tone for an elegant dining experience - also live music

NYC: Lady Mendl's, located at Irving Place. Wonderful food and outstanding service in a beautiful and nicely tucked away "Old New York" setting. Very special, even if their website isn't that great (be sure to look at the photo section):

http://www.ladymendls.com/

There used to be a place in Chester called "Sally Lunn". Very nice...

The Mad Hatter (I think thats the name?) in Boonton is beautiful, a lovely old home with room after room of all things tea. Big second also for the Short Hills Hilton but you need two weeks to reserve usually.

I'll second St. Regis Afternoon Tea - it is WONDERFUL!!!!!

I once met some friends visiting from out of town at the Plaza. Isn't that a famous tea tourist trap? I also had wonderful tea in Devon, UK but that's not local.

That was all so long ago, I don't even remember exactly what it means to have afternoon tea, but it sound like it might be fun. What do you do? Are you supposed to get dressed up and mind your manners and stick your little finger out? Or is it a big friendly pig out (which is what I remember in Devon)? Is it only for girls and do you have to act snotty?

I don't know if the Plaza is open now. It's been under construction for a while in its conversion to condos...

Plaza is closed permanantly.

Nan - I nearly spat my tea out over the keyboard as I burst out laughing when I read your post!

You most certainly do *not* need to stick your little finger out when you have a cup of tea! You don't have to act snotty but you can do if you wish LOL! I confess to being very greedy and go to have a laugh and to pig out for sure!

On the other hand, it is nice to wear something less casual than you normally would - you don't have to go over the top but jeans or bare midriffs just wouldn't look right for an elegant high tea. Some ladies (usually those of a 'certain age') do like to dress up in a nice (often floral) tea dress and use it as an excuse to wear their jewellery but it's not necessary. Just look clean and tidy if possible.

Anyone can go for tea - we often used to take my friend's dad with us in various hotels when he was visiting from Scotland, but I don't recommend taking young children. However, I was mortified a few years ago when I took my mum and mother-in-law to tea at the famous Fortnum & Mason's department store in London. My children were much younger (approx 6 and 10) and jet-lagged (we were on Summer home leave from our expat posting in Singapore and had arrived in London a day or so before.) They were horrors, constantly whining and fidgeting as they were overtired and it was really embarrassing. Children are definitely expected to have impeccable manners when they go to tea - as does everyone else!

Honeydo: I do feel that the Sally Lunn's in Chester is very overpriced....it's not much cheaper than going to the Hilton in Short Hills and you get more and better food at the Hilton.

I would imagine that other hotels in NYC eg. The Pierre, The Carlyle and the Benjamin do very nice afternoon/High teas as well - the info is probably on their websites.

Miss L Toe;

Is there a difference between tea and high tea?

boomie- I think the Palm Court (where you have tea at the Plaza) is supposted to remain open... but could be closed during the construction.

Lizziecat:

From a British perspective, 'high tea' is just another term for your main meal of the day which you would eat in the early evening at say, 5.30pm - 6.00pm. (Obviously in homes where the parents work late or have long commutes tea/dinner/supper is eaten later but often children at home may eat earlier than mum or dad). The word 'high tea' has pretty much died out as far as I'm aware and people just tend to say 'tea'.....when we were children my mum and all of the mums in the neighbourhood would call us all in to "come and get your tea!". The word is interchangeable with dinner or supper and usage tends to vary from region to region in the UK.

When I lived in Singapore the hotels would offer 'afternoon tea' (English style) eg. the Regent or Goodwood Park hotels or others eg. Raffles Hotel or the Shangri-La for instance offered 'High tea" where you would get a few cakes but it was mostly local Asian fare, some hot dishes and cold dishes.

Afternoon tea of course is when you have pots of tea and eat dainty finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and fancy cakes or teabreads. It's not normally done in the UK these days unless you go out to a tearoom or hotel - although the exception might be on a Sunday afternoon if you are visiting a relative or friend...normally just tea and cake but sometimes if it is very late in the afternoon then you might also have sandwiches.

Hope this clears it up somewhat! :bigsmile:

miss_l_toe,

So is the 4:00 PM English tea time is just a myth? I'm starting to question the realism of Mary Poppins.

Also, I did some research on the Plaza and it looks like the Palm Court got Landmark Status and will reopen, maybe soon.

I also found this website with worldwide listings for places to have tea. Not sure how up to date it is as Pen & Jen is still listed for Maplewood: http://www.teaguide.net/

It does clear things up for me, Miss l Toe, thanks. It's been bothering me for years. I watch Eastenders regularly, but that didn't help answer the question. From now on, at my house, I shall be making tea for my husband, not dinner. "Come and get your tea, dear..."

In Scotland, high tea is distinct from afternoon tea or the regular evening meal. It is a cross between dinner and afternoon tea. Usually it is served with the same cakestand and scones as you might have with afternoon tea, but there will be a hot meal (smaller than dinner serving) rather than little sandwiches. It is usually only done well by small hotels with old ladies baking for them. ;-)

edit - high tea is not fancy in the way afternoon tea is considered these days. It is a supper with lots of home baking, nicely presented, basically.

Isnt the place in Boonton called the Upper Crust - is that the same as the Mad HAtter (which was actually the name of a boonton bank robber apparently)

As I read this two images are coming to mind -

a tea I had in London that had the best clotted cream and the yellow pages commercial with men in hardhats saying 'finga sandwiches gentlemen?' advertising the fact that you could find Civil Engineers in the yellow pages.

willton now Im not sure. The Upper Crust one is beautiful, but I thought for sure this other one was called Mat Hatter or soemthing like that. It was filled with "Purple Hat" ladies stuff?

I second Alice's Tea Cup in NYC, either location. Excellent teas, unearthly scones.

I second mfstrecks opinion of Alices Tea Cup. Its right near my brothers apartment and I love going there any time I am in the city.

Nan - My English mum still has tea every afternoon at 4pm! Not as posh as the hotels; just a cuppa and a piece of cake.

For previous generations afternoon tea was for the ladies - finger sandwiches and scones. High Tea was more substantial for the gentlemen - perhaps quiche or scrambled egg on toast. It was to keep them going until formal dinner/supper.

Fresh homemade scones and clotted cream is absolutely the best.

Newtotown- We've been to Sally Lunns in Chester - it's kind of quirky/mismatched. Possibly not "Special" for your girls.

kew,

Glad to know I was not fed a complete pack of lies in schools. Does anyone younger than your mum have tea at 4 anymore or has it died out with her generation?

I had the homemade scones and clotted cream in Devon and I know what you mean. Good thing you can't get that stuff here or I'd be about 300 pounds (or stones) heavier.

He he I'm English and I drink cups of tea all day long - naturally with milk!

Most people do have a break in the afternoon say, at around 3pm to 4pm; generally a cup/mug of tea and a little 'treat'. I don't know of that many people who will have a slice of cake on a daily basis with their cuppa (too fattening) but the majority of people whom I know will certainly have some biscuits (hard not 'soft baked' cookies) eg. Digestives, Rich Tea, Shortbread which is often 'dunked' in the tea, or maybe Custard Creams or the similar chocolate flavoured 'bourbon' biscuits or "Jammie Dodgers" (a biscuit sandwich with 'jam' as the filling). I have a number of Australian and Kiwi (New Zealand) friends and because of the old British heritage they all have similar habits too; they all enjoy 'Arnott's' biscuits eg. Tim Tams and favourite cakes include Vanilla Slices and Lamingtons (sponge cake coated in chocolate and dessicated coconut) or Pavlovas (meringue with whipped cream and fresh fruit eg. passion fruit or berries).

A special treat will be to have a cream cake with a cup of tea in the afternoon and every British bakery sells fresh cream cakes, they don't use the 'artiificial' cream. Eeek, I'm getting homesick LOL! I'm very partial to egg custard tarts - I con myself that it is a 'healthier' option LOL.

I've just remembered that there is a proper English tea shop in Greenwich Village in NYC: 'Tea and Sympathy' which is right next door to the authentic English 'chippy' (fish and chip shop) and the English confectionery & 'gift' shop (English choc bars, tea pots, shower curtains, books etc). I love the chippy and often go there to get my 'Brit fix' but have only been to 'Tea and Sympathy' once as it is always ever so busy.

Here is the Tea Shop:

http://www.teaandsympathynewyork.com/home.php

The Afternoon Tea with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, tea and cake is $26.00

http://www.teaandsympathynewyork.com/rest_menu_lunch.php

The Chippy - an authentic English chip shop (I love to have their curry sauce with my fish and chips and wash it down with Boddingtons Ale). Seating is very limited (on stools):

http://www.asaltandbattery.com/indexb.html :bigsmile::cool:

When Mr. Lizziecat and I travelled in England, we used to get a kick out of seeing cars stopped by the side of the road, every day at around 11:00 A.M. and again at 4:00 P.M. The people would have folding tables and chairs set up, complete with tablecloths and plates, and would be enjoying their tea in all kinds of weather. I guess that the morning break is "elevenses?"

Lizziecat - yes, it is 'elevenses'.

I wonder where you were travelling?

Now I have to admit - one thing which I still find odd despite living in the States for nearly 7 years is that few people seem to stop and savour their drinks, even for as little as 5 or 10 minutes. Everyone here seems to have coffee-on-the-go either in polystyrene cups or in those insulated small flasks and drink whilst driving along (you never see people in Europe or the Far East doing this!).

I was in the King's in Short Hills one day and a woman with her cart and drinking a freshly poured coffee at the same time crashed into me and spilt most of it down me. I wasn't very pleased as I could have been scalded (just as well it didn't spill onto a small child) and of course had to go home to get changed. I'm surprised that King's and other supermarkets allow their customers to do this in case they are sued. Again, I've never seen people drinking hot drinks in supermarket aisles other than in the States....what a pity that people don't take a few minutes to 'chill' or relax.

Miss L Toe;

We've been to England on several occasions. Each time, we've rented a car and taken off through the countryside. We've been to Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Chester, York, the Lake District, Stonehenge, Avebury, Cornwall (Tintagel), Glastonbury, Wales, and also to Scotland. Those are the place names I remember--there were also a lot of little villages the names of which I've forgotten. I'd have to look them up.

We were into ancient monuments and Roman antiquities, and the Arthurian legends. Driving through the countryside was wonderful fun, and we only scraped the side of the car against a couple of stone walls. We used to see people having their tea on the big motorways as well as on the country roads. Once we had to stop for a flock of sheep that was crossing the road, and one of them climbed right up through the front of the car and out again.

We also love London--who wouldn't? We took the underground from Gatwick into the city, and we felt right at home. It was like being on the subway in New York, with all the people riding to work. We've been all over London on the underground, never got lost, had a blast. Tourists started asking us for directions after a while.

"If a man is tired of London, he's tired of life." Ben Johnson?